Stochastic pulsing of gene expression enables the generation of spatial patterns in Bacillus subtilis biofilms

Stochastic pulsing of gene expression can generate phenotypic diversity in a genetically identical population of cells, but it is unclear whether it has a role in the development of multicellular systems. Here, we show how stochastic pulsing of gene expression enables spatial patterns to form in a model multicellular system, Bacillus subtilis bacterial biofilms. We use quantitative microscopy and time-lapse imaging to observe pulses in the activity of the general stress response sigma factor σB in individual cells during biofilm development. Both σB and sporulation activity increase in a gradient, peaking at the top of the biofilm, even though σB represses sporulation. As predicted by a simple mathematical model, increasing σB expression shifts the peak of sporulation to the middle of the biofilm. Our results demonstrate how stochastic pulsing of gene expression can play a key role in pattern formation during biofilm development. Stochastic pulsing of gene expression can generate phenotypic diversity in a genetically identical population of cells. Here, the authors show that stochastic pulsing in the expression of a sigma factor enables the formation of spatial patterns in a multicellular system, Bacillus subtilis bacterial biofilms.